Biggest Union Of Teachers In Archdiocese Reaches Accord

By ABBY GOODNOUGH

Published: December 11, 2001

The union representing most Roman Catholic schools in New York City and its suburbs has accepted a three-year contract from the Archdiocese of New York that provides an 11 percent raise, even as a smaller union continues striking in a bitter dispute over salaries and pensions.

Although the two unions had differing demands, the tentative settlement with the larger union, the Federation of Catholic Teachers, may change the dynamic between the archdiocese and the smaller union, the Lay Faculty Association, whose members at nine high schools began striking on Nov. 29 and have been out for eight school days so far. The Lay Faculty Association now expects the same salary increase granted to the larger union.

The settlement may also pressure the smaller union to drop its demand for a second pension, which has been its main point of contention with the archdiocese. The larger union, which represents 3,200 teachers at 235 schools, had not made such a request. The Lay Faculty Association represents 377 teachers and guidance counselors.

Leaders of the Federation of Catholic Teachers appeared happy with the 11 percent salary increase, which is more than the 6 percent that the archdiocese initially offered but less than the 15 percent that some union officials said they were seeking. It comes as Cardinal Edward M. Egan is trying to close a $20 million budget gap with measures that have so far included the closing of three schools in the archdiocese.

The federation lost its battle to keep the archdiocese from switching to a more restrictive health care plan. But the archdiocese agreed not to increase the contributions that union members have to make to their medical plan. It had originally tried to push through such an increase, but the union protested vociferously and some members even called in sick last week to protest.

''Those sick-outs were a wake-up call to the archdiocese about how displeased we were,'' said Michele MacDonald, the union president. ''We had never done that, but in this case we saw no movement and the members were very angry.''

But Joseph Zwilling, the spokesman for the archdiocese, insisted that the decision by several dozen teachers to call in sick last week had not forced a settlement. He also said that the continuing strike by the smaller union had not affected negotiations between the archdiocese and the Federation of Catholic Teachers.

The dispute between the archdiocese and the Lay Faculty Association centers on the union's demand for a second pension plan, which it claims would be financed entirely by its members' contributions. The union says that the pension plan offered by the archdiocese does not provide nearly enough retirement income. But the archdiocese has rejected the union's proposal, saying that it might be held liable for the second pension in the future.

Yesterday, Henry Kielkucki, a leader of the Lay Faculty Association, softened his stance on the pension proposal. He said in an interview that the union would consider dropping the proposal if the archdiocese improved the existing pension plan.

But he added that his union now fully expected to receive the same salary increase granted to the Federation of Catholic Teachers, whose contract has yet to be ratified by its full membership. The association had appeared to be willing to settle for an 8 percent raise over three years on the condition that they got the second pension and one-time bonuses totaling $3,500.

''Now they've got to give us 11 percent,'' said Mr. Kielkucki, whose union was offered the 8 percent raise before negotiations broke down last month. ''The only reason the F.C.T. got this settlement is because we're on the street.''

Catholic high school teachers make $29,893 to $41,745. By comparison, New York City public school teachers make $31,910 to $70,000. Elementary school teachers working for the archdiocese earn $26,712 to $37,010 a year. Catholic school pensions can be as little as $12,000 after 25 years of service.

Mr. Zwilling said an 11 percent raise was by no means guaranteed for the Lay Faculty Association.

''I can't say we will offer something specific on salary,'' he said, ''then have them make demands in other areas that would make the cost of the contract astronomical.''

Mr. Zwilling would not discuss whether the archdiocese would consider sweetening the union's existing pension plan.

It remains to be seen how the settlement with the Federation of Catholic Teachers will affect the archdiocese's financial troubles. Its schools are technically run not by the archdiocese, but by individual parishes, which are supposed to pay for teachers' salaries and other school expenses through tuition and private donations. Many of those parishes, however, have little cash and ask the archdiocese for help.

The 10 schools whose teachers belong to the Lay Faculty Association -- 9 of which were struck by their teachers -- are owned and operated by the archdiocese, so any raises not covered by tuition and other income would come directly from archdiocesan coffers.

Mr. Zwilling said yesterday that in both cases, the archdiocese's financial problems had no bearing on the contract negotiations.